Empowering local action through innovative research
Digital earth and resilient infrastructure (DERI) research theme is dedicated to advancing decision-making pathways that address the complex challenges of the built environment, with a clear focus on benefiting both people and the planet. We prioritise solutions that are nature-inspired and nature-loving, committed to place-based approaches that foster socially supportive and resilient communities.
Our collaborative team is committed to supporting and growing sustainable human environments. We focus on delivering climate adaptation, enhancing food resilience, embedding circular economy approaches, and effectively preparing for and responding to disasters. We research 'nature-inspired' (biomimetic), 'nature-loving' (biophilic), and digital-spatial ('place-based') design and decision-making processes aimed at creating resilient and regenerative cities. With a foundation rooted in extensive research and practical experience in sustainable development and engineering, our multidisciplinary team includes experts from diverse fields such as architecture, civil and coastal engineering, land use and transport planning, urban design, systems analysis, economics, law, and public health.
Theme leader Dr Kimberley Reis
Kimberley is theme leader for the 'Digital Earth and Resilient Infrastructure' research agenda and local food resilience planning within the Institute. Kimberley is working towards resilient and regenerative cities through enabling evidence-based decision-making that is locally and regionally relevant. She works to foster co-design and systems innovation in collaboration with young people, to deliver business model generation, vocational skills, and inter-generational disaster resilience and mitigation efforts focused on scaling urban farms in schools, youth hubs, and underutilised spaces across the State.
Our researchers
Dr Tanja Beer
Senior Lecturer, Queensland College of Art and Design
Dr Kelly Bertolaccini
EBE Lecturer of Transport Engineering
Emeritus Professor Sherif Mohamed
Research Fellow
Dr Dominic Ong
Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering and Built Environment
Professor Anne Roiko
Academic Lead, Environmental Health, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
Assoc Prof Shannon Rutherford
Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
Professor Tim Ryley
EBE Professor of Aviation
Our research candidates
Our doctoral candidates are vital members of our research team, driving forward innovative and impactful studies. These students hail from both Australia and around the world, supported by a diverse array of funding sources, including Griffith University, the Australian Government, and international scholarships.
Anais Fabre — Innovation tools in public transport systems to mitigate climate change
Sheriden Keegan — Building regional capacity in developing sustainable and resilient food systems
Lynn Lue-Kopman — The path to the plate: Urban food security building resilience - a case study of Logan City
Katharina Nieberler-Walker — Investigating the role of purposefully designed therapeutic landscapes
Grace O'Connor — Investigating local food systems, small-scale market gardening and alternative food charity models
Ahmed Qasim — An investigation into enabling local community led food supply systems
Jane Toner — Coevolution of biomimicry and regenerative design for place-based projects
Yunjin (Winty) Wang — Rebuilding children’s nature: Exploring nature-based place-based attachment in metropolitan areas
Our adjunct members
Our adjunct members and industry fellows serve as crucial connectors, bridging our research group with broader academic and industry networks both across Australia and globally.
Dr Sanam Aghdamy — Facade Engineer, G.James, Brisbane
Sioux Campbell — Principal Communications and Community Engagement Office, The Public Trustee, Cairns
Dr Savindi Caldera — Lecturer in Environmental Management, University of Sunshine Coast
Dr Mark Gibbs — Principal Systems Engineer, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Dr Samantha Hayes — Managing Consultant, Bioneering Australia, Brisbane
Dr Dominique Hes — Chair - Board of Directors, Greenfleet; Advisory Committee Member, Circular Economy Minsterial Advisory Group Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.
Jeremy Mansfield OAM — General Manager Sustainability - Operations, Lendlease Australia, Brisbane
Luis Perez-Mora — Principal Program Officer, SES Capability Development, Brisbane
Paulette Oldfield — Co-organiser, HealthTech Innovation, Qld
Dr Angela Reeve — Sustainability Policy Officer, Sunshine Coast Council
Dr Allison Rifai — Executive Manager - Research and Communication, Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management, Brisbane
Dr Matthew Webb — Associate - Sustainabiity, Integral Group Australia, Brisbane
Explore DERI projects
Enabling community action for local food contingency
Community-led decision-making enables communities to take shared responsibility for their food resilience, especially during times of crisis. Our research team is bridging the gap between community and government, fostering the capacity to access local food resources and ensuring communities can thrive in uncertain times.
Citizen science for cooler schools: Improving heat resilience in educational settings
While State Government's Cooler Cleaner Schools program has successfully ensured that all teaching spaces in Queensland are air-conditioned, there remain other indoor areas and outdoor environments — such as playgrounds, eating areas, the school hall, and drop-off zones — where additional cooling would be highly beneficial. Addressing heat-health risks requires not only mitigating heat exposure but also providing opportunities for cooling through adequate hydration and activity modifications.
Closing the loop on organics in cities: At-scale food-waste composting
Sending food waste to landfill carries profound social and environmental consequences. Our research team is dedicated to developing strategies for 'closing the loop' on food waste recycling. By applying 'lean and green thinking,' we aim to help farmers, industry, and government maximise the use of valuable resources, turning waste into opportunities for sustainability.
Fostering resilient infrastructure through biomimetic design and engineering
Climate change threatens infrastructure by disrupting operations, shortening lifespans, and escalating reconstruction and maintenance costs. Our research team is investigating how biomimicry can revolutionise resilience strategies for both new infrastructure projects and the renewal of existing systems, offering innovative solutions to these pressing challenges.
Harnessing data for decision-making towards biophilic (nature-loving) cities
Everything is interconnected, and the importance of 'place' cannot be overstated. Our research team is exploring the potential of geospatial data to revolutionise urban design and planning. This includes mapping the attributes of nature-loving cities, developing analytical methods to quantify the value of green spaces, and leveraging artificial intelligence with satellite imagery to assess the carbon capture potential of green infrastructure.
Normalising access to nature: Green spaces in buildings
As people spend the majority of their time indoors, regular exposure to nature can greatly enhance overall wellbeing. Our research team is empowering decision-makers with the tools to assess the costs and benefits of green spaces, advocating for their installation and preservation as essential 'green' infrastructure.
Innovating remote collaboration with DENs
Global problem-solving often incurs unnecessary time and energy costs due to travel. Our research team is developing Digital Engagement Networks (DENs) — advanced workspace environments that facilitate seamless remote interactions. These DENs require minimal hardware, operate on very narrow bandwidth, and feature zero-lag displays, ensuring that data remains securely local.
My thesis in 3 minutes
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that challenges HDR candidates to describe their research in a language that can be understood by a non-specialist audience, within just three minutes. Throughout the annual international competition, participants develop their presentation and communication skills, honing their ability to explain their research in a brief and engaging manner.
DERI PhD opportunities
Are you interested in undertaking a PhD aligned with the Digital earth and resilient infrastructure theme? We have supervisors available in areas such as architecture, civil and coastal engineering, land use and transport planning, urban design, systems analysis, economics, law, and public health. The Institute offers an excellent PhD program offering peer-support, and the DERI research team can provide you with industry contacts and access to data. Our graduates are gaining positions in leading universities, local and state government, and consultancies.
Please contact the researcher most aligned with your research interests in the first instance. If you are uncertain who might be best placed as a possible supervisor, feel free to contact Dr Kimberly Reis directly.